GUJRAT: Two lady health workers (LHWs) posted at a Basic Health Unit (BHU) in Bheelwal were gang-raped by four unidentified men, according to information gathered on Saturday.

The gangsters also took away Rs8,000 and other valuables but it could not be confirmed whether they had come to the BHU for robbery.

The incident took place at the public health facility within the Tanda police jurisdiction on Dec 29. It was kept under wraps until the women victims approached Gujrat District Police Officer Sohail Zafar Chatha on Friday.

It is said that there was a third lady health worker at the heath facility. The severity of the assault on her is not yet clear although it has been learnt that the gang of four men had kept her locked in a room for a considerable period of time.

Speaking to Dawn, the Gujrat DPO confirmed the gang-rape and said police had traced the four suspects who would be arrested soon. He said the two LHWs would reside in the residential rooms of the BHU and they had informed their superiors about the ghastly incident but continued to work. The Tanda police had initially registered a robbery case under Section 392 of the Pakistan Penal Code as it was complained that the gangsters had taken away Rs8,000 and valuables such as the UPS system and battery, a biometric machine and a mobile phone after locking the watchmen in a room.

After revelations by the girls, police added Section 376 (2) (punishment for gang-rape) of the PPC to the FIR.

Earlier on Jan 12, Deputy Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha had also visited the BHU and listened to the details of what was initially reported as robbery.

The DC had announced one-month extra salary for the staff of the BHU and pledged more incentives for them.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2017